Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport

Upon your arrival in Entebbe, a company representative will warmly welcome you and transfer you to your hotel for an overnight stay to begin your Classic Uganda Safari Adventure.

Optional Activity: Depending on your arrival time, you may have a visit to Uganda Wildlife Education Center for an introduction to Uganda's Flora and Fauna.

Meal Plan: Dinner | Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 2: To Jinja – Rafting / Quad Biking

Following breakfast at 7:30 am, our journey from Kampala to Jinja in the east begins. Upon arrival, you’ll have the option to experience the thrill of grade 3 rafting on the Nile, avoiding the intense rapids of grade 5.

Alternatively, you can choose a Quad Biking Session, guiding you through picturesque farms, lush forests, and quaint villages along the River Nile.

For those seeking an extra challenge, special sections can be added to the quad biking route. With ample time, we’ll explore further along the Nile, immersing ourselves in the beauty of the surrounding farms, forests, and villages along the eastern bank.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Adrift River Club | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 3: To Sipi Falls – Sipi Falls hike and Coffee tour

Breakfast at 7:00 am, then proceed to Sipi Falls, arriving in time for the Sipi Falls Hike using the upper loop. This is a 3-3.5 hrs activity depending on the pace set by the group. This is an amazing walk that takes you on an up climb to the top of the upper waterfall and beyond, walking through community plantations before reaching the national park boundary.

On a clear day, marvel at the majestic vistas, beholding the peaks of Elgon, the apex of Wanale Ridge, and the sprawling plains below. Following the hike, partake in a captivating coffee tour.

Immerse yourself in the coffee cultivation as you visit a local plantation nestled amidst the slopes of Elgon. Gain insights into the meticulous processes of coffee processing, cultivation, and harvesting.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Sipi Heritage Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 4: Sipi Falls – Kidepo National Park

Breakfast and then head to Kidepo Valley National with lunch en route, arriving in the evening for relaxation.  About 480 species have been recorded in the park due to its varied vegetation. Kidepo Valley National Park is renowned for its dramatic savannah landscapes, surrounded by rugged mountains. It features the Kidepo and Narus Valleys, which provide water and attract wildlife year-round, with stunning views of the Mount Morungole range, home to the Ik people.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Kidepo Savannah Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 5: Game Safari & Dodoth Village Experience

Your day on the Classic Uganda Safari Adventure begins at dawn with a game drive or safari walk through the enchanting Narus River Valley. Encounter a stunning array of wildlife, from giraffes and zebras to elephants and lions, set against the backdrop of the African savannah. The park also boasts over 475 bird species, making it a birder’s paradise.

After lunch, visit a local Karamojong Homestead to experience their way of life. Take a 4-hour hike to Dodoth Village. Immerse yourself in the Karamojong’s nomadic culture, learn about local traditions like brewing kwete( local beer), arinding grains like Sorghum, and join in their vibrant Emuya and Edonga dances. End the day with a scenic hike, taking in breathtaking views from Kenya to South Sudan.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Kidepo Savannah Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 6: Kidepo–Murchison Falls National Park

The journey from Kidepo Valley National Park to Murchison Falls National Park takes around 6 hours, traveling through diverse landscapes. Departing Kidepo, you’ll pass the vast plains and rugged hills of the Karamojong region, offering views of traditional homesteads and the Karamojong people. Heading south to Gulu, the road transitions into farmlands and vibrant towns before continuing through scenic savannah landscapes towards Lake Albert. The journey culminates with the mighty Murchison Falls, where the Nile River crashes through a narrow gorge, creating a stunning waterfall, while the park's wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, and lions, enrich the experience.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Fort Murchison | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 7: Game Drive and Boat Cruise to the Bottom of the Falls

After breakfast, you will continue to Murchison Falls National Park with a game drive on the northern bank of the Nile, giving you a greater chance of seeing animals such as giraffes, elephants, lions, hartebeest, and different species of birds.

In the afternoon, you have a boat trip to the base of the falls. Look out for the Nile crocodile, hippos, waterbucks, and a variety of bird species at the bottom of the falls, an amazing scenic view of the Nile awaits you as well before returning to the lodge.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Fort Murchison | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 8: Murchison Falls – Fort Portal

After breakfast, head to Fort Portal with stopovers at Papyrus Swamps for a birding session along the way, look out for Red-necked Falcon, Marsh Tchagra, Thick-billed and Slender-billed Weavers, Black-crowned and Fawn-breasted Waxbills, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, and Black Bishop.

You may spot black-and-white colobus monkeys, baboons, and more primates hiding in trees along the road. You will have lunch in Fort Portal Town, this area is famed for the fabled mountains of the moon and many tea plantations.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Turaco Treetops | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 9: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

Today, the forest opens its doors for sensational chimp tracking. Kibale Forest is reputed for having the highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the wild chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey, and many others.

After lunch, we transferred to Bigodi Community. Here you will have the choice to join a guided Swamp Walk through the Wetland Sanctuary, which is famous for the many birds and primates that live in this area.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Turaco Treetops | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 10: Rwenzori Foothills – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today, you can enjoy the majestic Rwenzori Mountains in their full glory! Have a guided walk at the foothills of the ‘Mountains of the Moon and learn about the local culture firsthand. Enjoy the scenic views, have a glimpse of village life, and meet the locals. Thereafter, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving in time for a late lunch on the Classic Uganda Adventure.

In the evening, you may head out for an evening game drive or head out to the Kichwamba Orphanage Foundation for a coffee tour experience, learning about the processing of coffee, later a cultural dance session.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 11: Lion Experiential Project and Boat Cruise Kazinga Channel

After breakfast, you will visit an experiential lion project. This experience allows visitors to actively participate in monitoring the pride in the park, using locator devices and learning habituation calls, as well as monitoring weather, surroundings, and behavior.

The results are added to researchers’ databases, contributing valuable information to the overall understanding of wildlife ecology and helping to conserve this wonderful ecosystem.

After lunch, head for the scheduled 3 hrs boat ride along the Kazinga channel joining Lake Edward and Lake George with excellent wildlife sightings including, multitudes of hippopotami, Nile crocodiles, wallowing buffaloes on its reedy banks, elephants, multitudes of birds including many endemics as well as hundreds of other plains game that come to it for water.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 12: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi National Park

After breakfast, head to Bwindi National Park, the home of the mountain gorillas, with lunch en route, take time to look at the amazing scenery and homesteads of the local communities. You will arrive in the early evening for relaxation in preparation for your gorilla trekking adventure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 13:  Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park

In the early morning, you will be briefed on gorilla tracking at the park headquarters and assigned to groups of 8 people per group. Accompanied by a guide and your packed lunch, you will go in search of the gorillas in a small group. You walk through the forest, sometimes you descend again, and then climb up a slope again. The duration of gorilla tracking is unpredictable.

The walk can be quite strenuous due to the muddy trails and mountainous areas, and can take up to 8 hours depending on how far the gorillas have moved in search of food. It is worth it, and what awaits you, in the end, is indescribable.

For an hour, you can admire these peaceful ‘Gentle Giants’ as they go about their daily activities of grooming, feeding, and playing. It is a once-in-a-lifetime, memorable experience on your Classic Uganda Safari Adventure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 14:  Bwindi NP – Lake Bunyonyi -Culture on the Crest Tour

After breakfast, head to Lake Bunyonyi, arriving in time for lunch at the Lodge. After lunch, you will embark on a 5-hour experience on the Kyabahinga Peninsula. You will canoe across the bay to the terraced hillsides of the Kyabahinga peninsula.

Have a stopover at a trading center above the school where the local brew is made, as you proceed to climb the slopes of Kyabahinga for about 30 minutes till the top of the hill, you will meet Omugurusi Jeremiah, a traditional healer, a well-known herbalist who will share with us some carefully chosen secrets of tropical highland flora.

After that, proceed to the ridge where you will find a home of a crafts maker who will demonstrate how the crafts are made, and you can try them out as well. A descent down the hill and a short canoe ride will bring you back to our starting point.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Mucha Hotel | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 15:  Lake Bunyonyi – Mgahinga NP Golden Monkey Hike

Following breakfast, make your way to Mgahinga National Park to attend a briefing regarding the guidelines and regulations for hiking with golden monkeys. The trek commences promptly at 8 a.m., following the Gahinga Trail in pursuit of these captivating creatures.

Typically lasting between 30 minutes to 3 hours, the trek duration varies based on the monkeys’ movements in their quest for food. You’ll have the opportunity to observe the golden monkeys for approximately 1 hour, witnessing their daily routines. Subsequently, descend along the trail back to the initial point of departure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Mucha Hotel | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 16: Mgahinga – Lake Mburo National Park Boat Cruise

We drive to Lake Mburo National Park, and as we enter the park, you will likely spot some wildlife, like impalas, zebras, and buffaloes, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, you can go on a boat ride on the lake and enjoy the rich birdlife and the hippos that are cooling off. In the evening, you will have an evening game drive in search of zebras, buffalo, giraffes, and impalas, among others, before returning to the Lodge for relaxation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and  Dinner | Accommodation: Mpogo Safari Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 17:  Biking Safari and Game Drives

After breakfast, head out for the Ankole Trail 2-hour biking session. Ride along paths that wind through local Ankole cattle farms, where you can interact with herders and learn about the traditional Ankole cattle culture. The trail also offers opportunities to spot wildlife like zebras, impalas, and bird species as you cycle through the diverse ecosystems of Lake Mburo National Park. Later, return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch.

In the evening, head out to the Kigambira Loop in search of bushbucks, bush duikers, and occasionally leopards; thereafter, head back to the lodge.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner | Accommodation: Bakiga Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 18:  Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe

Early start of the day, as we will go for a bushwalk guided by a ranger. Lake Mburo National Park is renowned for its rich birdlife and beautiful lakes. Enjoy a nature walk searching for zebras, warthogs, buffalo, and impala, and, if you’re lucky, see the largest of Africa’s antelopes, the beautiful Eland.

Return to the lodge for breakfast, and with a game drive on our way out, we depart the protected area heading back towards the capital city. En route, we will pass the Equator, where we will make a stop for lunch, photos, and souvenir shopping.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 19:  Departure

After breakfast, depending on your flight details, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight back home at the end of your Classic Uganda Safari Adventure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast